Homicide in Hernando County, Florida
58 cases (2023-2025) · Hernando County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2023-2025 data
Hernando County achieves guilt findings in 82.5 percent of homicide cases, consistent with statewide patterns. The county withholds adjudication in 3.5 percent of cases, above the statewide rate of 1.4 percent, meaning some homicide defendants avoid formal conviction despite guilt findings. Notably, diversion occurs in 3.5 percent of cases—unusual for homicide and well above the statewide figure of 0.1 percent.
Defendants receive substantial sentences averaging over 14 years, with three-quarters receiving prison time. Public defenders represent roughly half of defendants in these cases, reflecting the severity and complexity of homicide prosecution.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Figures cover 58 cases (2023-2025) — fewer than 30 cases resolved in 2025, so multi-year figures are shown.
Outcome Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2023-2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 82.8% of 58 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 58 cases · 2023-2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2023-2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2023-2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 43 | 13.3 years |
| County Jail | 1 | 0 year, 12 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Homicide sentencing in Hernando County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Homicide in Hernando County?
The guilty rate is 82.8% based on 58 cases (2023-2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Homicide in Hernando County?
Adjudication is withheld in 3.4% of cases (2023-2025). This is a Florida-specific outcome where the court finds guilt but does not formally convict, allowing the defendant to avoid a conviction record under FL Statute 948.01.
What is the average sentence for Homicide in Hernando County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 14.3 years, with an average fine of $979 (2023-2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
50.0% of defendants use a public defender, while 0.0% retain private counsel (2023-2025).
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2023-2025)
Demographic data reflects systemic patterns in the criminal justice system and should not be used to draw conclusions about any racial or ethnic group. Disparities may reflect differences in policing, prosecution, and socioeconomic factors rather than actual crime rates.
| Race | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 44 | 81.8% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2023-2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 20.0 years |
| 2024 | 20 | 70.0% | 0.0% | 15.3 years |
| 2025 | 28 | 85.7% | 0.0% | 11.3 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 32 |
| Felony | First Degree | 12 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 7 |
| Felony | Life | 5 |
| Felony | Capital | 2 |
Related Charges in Hernando County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Possession | 1,100 | 70.3% | 2.7% |
| Larceny / Theft | 601 | 52.9% | 1.3% |
| Traffic Offense | 839 | 73.8% | 0.4% |
| Battery | 434 | 55.5% | 2.3% |
| Other | 420 | 62.9% | 2.4% |
| Resisting Officer | 284 | 76.4% | 1.1% |
| Trespassing | 227 | 88.5% | 1.3% |
| DUI | 226 | 97.3% | 0.4% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Homicide in Hernando County, Florida (2023-2025). Based on 58 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/homicide/hernando
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Hernando County. "Guilty" includes all cases where the defendant was found guilty. "Adjudication withheld" is a Florida-specific disposition where guilt is found but the court withholds formal adjudication under FL Statute 948.01. "Dismissed" includes all cases dismissed by the court or prosecution.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 58 cases (2023-2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com